Pubdate: Fri, 22 Nov 2002
Source: State Journal-Register (IL)
Copyright: 2002 The State Journal-Register
Contact:  http://www.sj-r.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/425
Author: Robert Waldmire

DRUG WARRIORS ARE LOSING GROUND

Dear Editor,

As the drug war juggernaut lurches on, cracks in its armor are 
appearing.  Hallelujah!  The government's "drug czar," titular head of the 
odiously named "Office of National Drug Policy," is desperately stumping 
against marijuana decriminalization initiatives in a grwoing number of 
states.  Blatantly out of step with the American public on the issue of 
decriminalization, trying to rev up a new "reefer madness" campaign, the 
goose-stepping drug warriors definately have reasons to be anxious and 
alarmed: a grwoing chorus of voices calling for the decriminalization of 
marijuana threatens their chokehold on America.

For years, my theory has been that a populace legally allowed to get stoned 
would be a populace less prone to blind obedience, less prone to jingoistic 
patriotism and war-mongering and less likely to be contented as mere 
consumers and spectators in life.  And more likely to question.  The 
greatest threat to America's drift toward fascism and those driving it is a 
populace emboldened to question.

Perhaps, once marijuana is decriminalized and children can look forward to 
legally smoking it when they reach the legal, they'll be inclined to 
wait.  And perhaps they'll take lots of time to reflect on the critical 
choices they will make, on which substances -- legal or illegal -- to 
partake of.

Robert Waldmire

Rochester
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